Dress shirt with hidden medical access points

ABSTRACT

A dress shirt having a hidden medical access point, the dress shirt including a collar and a front portion. The front portion includes a first side, a second side, a plurality of buttons, and a first closable aperture. The first side having an open edge configured to overlap with an open edge of the second side when the first side is coupled to the second side. The plurality of buttons positioned along one of the open edge of the first side or the open edge of the second side. The first closable aperture is positioned on an upper chest position of the first side and the first closable aperture includes a fastener configured to permit the respective closable aperture to be in an open configuration or a closed configuration and wherein the first closable aperture, when in the open configuration, permits passage of a medical instrumentality therethrough.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates in general to dress shirts, and more particularly to dress shirts with hidden medical access points.

BACKGROUND

Patients undergoing lengthy medical treatment such as chemotherapy and dialysis may have central venous catheters. Central venous catheters are long, thin flexible catheter tubing surgically inserted beneath the skin with the end of the catheter inserted into a large vein with the catheter tip positioned near the heart to introduce medicines, nutrients, fluids and/or other products into a patient's bloodstream. Two common types of central venous catheters are the port line and the peripherally inserted central catheter (“PICC” line). A port line is a catheter usually inserted in the upper chest area just below the collar bone. In contrast, a picc line is a catheter that extends out of one of the large veins in the upper arm above the elbow. Products are injected into an open end of the tube that is capped off when not in use.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

According to one embodiment, a dress shirt having a hidden medical access point, the dress shirt including a collar and a front portion. The front portion includes a first side, a second side, a plurality of buttons, and a first closable aperture. The first side and the second side each including an open edge that overlap with each other and the plurality of buttons being positioned along the open edge of one of the first side or the second side. The first closable aperture is positioned on an upper chest portion of the first side. One or more fasteners are configured to open and close the first closable aperture, the one or more fasteners of the first closable aperture permitting the first closable aperture to be in an open position or a closed position and the first closable aperture, when in the open position, permits passage of a medical instrumentality therethrough.

Certain embodiments may provide one or more technical advantages. For example, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a dress shirt having closable apertures positioned to provide access to one or more medical access points. As another example, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides for a dress shirt with hidden medical access points that is largely indistinguishable from a conventional dress shirt. Other technical advantages will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art from the following figures, descriptions, and claims. Moreover, while specific advantages have been enumerated above, various embodiments may include all, some, or none of the enumerated advantages.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the present disclosure and its advantages, reference is now made to the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front, elevational view of a dress shirt with hidden access points, the access points located on the inside sleeve of each arm and on the upper left-side chest and upper right-side chest, each access point hidden by a closed zipper;

FIG. 2 is a right perspective view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a left perspective view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a front, elevational view of the dress shirt of FIG. 1, showing each zipper in the open position to expose each access point;

FIG. 5 is a right perspective view of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a left perspective view of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a front, elevational view of a dress shirt with hidden access points, the access points located on the upper left-side chest and upper right-side chest, each access point hidden by a closed zipper;

FIG. 8 is a right perspective view of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a left perspective view of FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a front, elevational view of the dress shirt of FIG. 7, showing each zipper in the open position to expose each access point;

FIG. 11 is a right perspective view of FIG. 10; and

FIG. 12 is a left perspective view of FIG. 10.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

Port and picc lines are generally located either in the upper chest area or near the bend of the arm. Given these specific locations, port and/or picc lines are generally inaccessible in traditional clothing. As a result, some companies have designed clothing to accommodate such catheters. For example, RonWear designs functional, comfort clothing marketed to “keep you warm during your treatments and eliminate the hassle of changing into a hospital gown or modifying your wardrobe to meet your needs.” See RONWEAR, https://www.ronwear.com/features. Although RonWear might be appropriate apparel for some medical patients, it may be inappropriate apparel for others. For example, some medical patients continue to work while undergoing treatment and as such may require clothing that is functional and meets the dress code requirements of their places of business. As such, medical patients may desire clothing that is catheter accessible but is largely indistinguishable from a dress shirt.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a dress shirt 100 having hidden medical access points. As will be explained in more detail below, medical access points on a patient wearing the dress shirt 100 may be hidden with closable apertures 110 when the closable apertures 110 are in a closed configuration. On the other hand, when the closable apertures 110 are in an open configuration, they provide medical access points that allow access to the corresponding medical access points on the patient. Dress shirt 100 includes at least a front portion 120, a collar 130, one or more buttons 140, and one or more closable apertures 110. In some embodiments, dress shirt 100 also includes one or more sleeves 150. Although dress shirt 100 includes four closable apertures 110 a-d, only two are visible in FIG. 1 (see 110 a-b). Closable apertures 110 a-d are most easily identified in FIGS. 4-6 in their open configurations. As stated above, closable apertures 110 a-d are positioned to cover one or more medical access points (e.g., central venous catheters) of a medical patient. For example, closable apertures 110 a-b are positioned in an upper chest portion of front portion 120 to accommodate port and/or picc lines in a medical patient's chest. As another example, closeable apertures 110 c-d are positioned on an inner portion 154 of sleeve 150 to accommodate port and/or picc lines in a medical patient's arm.

As used herein, front portion 120 refers to the front-side of dress shirt 100 as perceived by a wearer of dress shirt 100. In some embodiments, front portion 120 extends from a base of collar 13 to at least a natural waist of the medical patient. Front portion 120 may, in some embodiments, extend further than the natural waist such that dress shirt 100 could be tucked into pants or a skirt also worn by the medical patient (about 0.5-6 inches). In some other embodiments, dress shirt 100 may extend even further such that dress shirt 100 is dress-length. As an example, dress shirt 100 may extend about 6-10.5 inches from the natural waist of medical patient to be of micro-mini length. As another example, dress shirt 100 may extend about 10.5-18 inches from the natural waist of medical patient to be of mini-length. This disclosure recognizes that front portion 120 may extend as far as desirable, including to/around the knees and/or ankles of medical patient.

Front portion 120 includes a left side 120 a and a right side 120 b. The left side 120 a and the right side 120 b may each have an open edge 122 configured to overlap with the other when the two sides are coupled together (e.g. when the dress shirt is worn by a patient). As depicted in FIG. 1, open edge 122 b of right side 120 b overlaps open edge 122 a of left side 120 a. Although depicted in this arrangement, this disclosure also recognizes that open edge 122 a of left side 120 a may overlap open edge 122 b of right side 120 b. In some embodiments, a plurality of buttons 140 are arranged in a substantially vertical configuration along open edge 120 (e.g., open edge 122 a or open edge 122 b). As depicted in FIGS. 1-12, buttons 140 may be arranged in a substantially vertical configuration starting from a position near collar 130. In other embodiments, buttons 140 may be arranged in a substantially vertical configuration starting from a position near the upper chest area of front portion 120. Buttons 140 may terminate at/near the bottom of front portion 120.

In some embodiments, buttons 140 are functional and provide a mechanism for coupling left side 120 a to right side 120 b. As an example, open edge 122 a may include a plurality of apertures (not depicted) to accommodate buttons 140 arranged on open edge 122 b. In such example, left side 120 a and right side 120 b may be coupled together when dress shirt 100 is fully buttoned.

In other embodiments, buttons 140 are merely decorative and dress shirt 100 includes another mechanism for coupling left side 120 a and right side 120 b. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 1, dress shirt 100 includes a zipper 125. Zipper 125 may be a preferred closure mechanism due to its ease and quickness of opening. In some embodiments, zipper 125 extends from at least a top button 140 (button 140 nearest collar 130) to a bottom button (button 140 furthest from collar 130). In other embodiments, zipper 125 is a different length. As with conventional zippers, zipper 125 may include a first portion and a second portion sewn to separate pieces of material so as to couple the materials when zipped. In some embodiments, the first portion is sewn on/to open edge 122 a and the second portion is sewn on/to open edge 122 b. Zipper 125 may be positioned between open edges 122 such that zipper 125 is substantially hidden when viewed from the front. In some embodiments, zipper 125 is more proximal to the medical patient than buttons 140.

Closable apertures 110 may be configured to open to reveal a medical access point (e.g., a port and/or picc line) of the medical patient. As such, this disclosure recognizes that dress shirt 100 include one or more fasteners 115 configured to facilitate the opening and closing of closable aperture 110. As depicted in FIG. 1-12, fasteners 115 are zippers. Fasteners 115 are shown in their closed positions in FIGS. 1-3 and 7-9 and fasteners 115 are shown in their open positions in FIGS. 4-6 and 10-12. Although described and depicted as zippers, fasteners 115 may be any suitable fastener configured to couple left side 120 a and right side 120 b. Suitable fasteners 115 may include (but are not limited to) buttons, buckles, ties, clasps, hook and loop fasteners (e.g., Velcro), and/or snaps. In some embodiments, dress shirt 100 may include two or more different types of fasteners 115. For example, fastener 115 a may be a zipper and fastener 115 b may be Velcro. As another example, fastener 115 c may be a zipper and fastener 115 d may be snaps.

When a closable aperture 110 is in a closed configuration (e.g. when the associated fastener 115 is in the closed position), the visibility of the closable aperture 110 may be reduced. Thus, when each of the closable apertures 110 are in a closed configuration, the dress shirt 100 may visually resemble a conventional dress shirt that does not include medical access points. In some embodiments, the closable apertures 110 of dress shirt 100 may include one or more visibility reducing features in order to further decrease the visual impact of the closable apertures and thereby make the dress shirt 100 more closely resemble a conventional dress shirt. As an example, fasteners 115 of dress shirt 100 may be the same or a similar color as the fabric of dress shirt 100. As another example, fasteners 115 may be covered by a fastener cover portion. Fastener cover portion may, in some embodiments, be an extension of fabric over all or a portion of fastener 115. The fabric cover portion may be made of the same material as the dress shirt in order to reduce the visibility of the fastener 115 and its associated closable aperture 110.

This disclosure also recognizes that each closable aperture 110, when in the open configuration (e.g. when the associated fastener 115 is in the open position), may permit the passage of one or more medical instrumentalities therethrough. As used herein, medical instrumentalities may refer to, for example, needles, tubing, and/or any other suitable apparatuses or devices used in the medical treatment of a patient.

As mentioned above, dress shirt 100 may include left sleeve 150 a and right sleeve 150 b in some embodiments. As illustrated in FIGS. 1-6, left sleeve 150 a and right sleeve 150 b couple to front portion 120. In some embodiments, left sleeve 150 a and right sleeve 150 b couple to front portion 120 on edges opposite open ends 122. Sleeves 150 may be any suitable length. In some embodiments, sleeves 150 are full-length and extend at least to the wrists of medical patient. In other embodiments, sleeve 150 are less than full length. For example, as illustrated in FIGS. 1-6, sleeves may be ¾ length and extend to a point between the elbow and the wrist of medical patient. Although this disclosure describes and depicts sleeves 150 of particular lengths, this disclosure recognizes that sleeves 150 may be on any suitable length. Sleeves 150 that extend beyond the elbow may include one or more closable apertures 110. For example, sleeve 150 a includes closable aperture 110 c and sleeve 150 b includes closable aperture 110 d. As described above, closable apertures 110 c-d may be substantially positioned over one or more medical access points (e.g., picc line and/or port line). The closeable apertures 110 on sleeves 115 may be located on inner portion 154 b of sleeves 150. This disclosure recognizes certain benefits for positioning closeable apertures 110 on inner portions 154 of sleeves 150 rather than outer portions 152 of sleeves 150. For example, apertures 110 located on inner portions 154 are less noticeable (or more discrete) than apertures 110 located on outer portion 152 of sleeves 150. As such, dress shirt 100 may outwardly appear more similar to a conventional dress shirt than a dress shirt having apertures 110 on outer portions 152 of sleeves 150.

As illustrated in FIGS. 7-12, this disclosure also recognizes an embodiment of dress shirt 100 having no sleeves 150. In such embodiment, dress shirt 100 may include one or more closable apertures 110. Such apertures 110 may be apertures 110 located on an upper chest portion of front portion 120 (e.g., apertures 110 a-b). As stated above, apertures 110 a-b may be positioned to accommodate medical access points (e.g., picc and/or port lines).

Due to the nature of injections, dress shirt 100 may become stained with blood and/or other products. As such, it may be desirable that dress shirt 100 be made from a material that is machine-washable. Dress shirt 100 may be made out of any suitable material. Preferably, dress shirt 100 is either made from a material that stains can be easily lifted from or is treated with a fabric protector. Examples of materials that stains can be easily lifted from are cotton, polyester, and/or blends thereof.

Herein, “or” is inclusive and not exclusive, unless expressly indicated otherwise or indicated otherwise by context. Therefore, herein, “A or B” means “A, B, or both,” unless expressly indicated otherwise or indicated otherwise by context. Moreover, “and” is both joint and several, unless expressly indicated otherwise or indicated otherwise by context. Therefore, herein, “A and B” means “A and B, jointly or severally,” unless expressly indicated otherwise or indicated otherwise by context. This disclosure may use one or more terms of approximation such as “about” or “substantially.” As used herein, these terms indicate a variance of 10% (e.g., +/−10%).

The scope of this disclosure encompasses all changes, substitutions, variations, alterations, and modifications to the embodiments described or illustrated herein that a person having ordinary skill in the art would comprehend. The scope of this disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described or illustrated herein. Moreover, although this disclosure describes and illustrates respective embodiments herein as including particular components, elements, functions, operations, or steps, any of these embodiments may include any combination or permutation of any of the components, elements, functions, operations, or steps described or illustrated anywhere herein that a person having ordinary skill in the art would comprehend. Furthermore, reference in the appended claims to an apparatus or system or a component of an apparatus or system being adapted to, arranged to, capable of, configured to, enabled to, operable to, or operative to perform a particular function encompasses that apparatus, system, component, whether or not it or that particular function is activated, turned on, or unlocked, as long as that apparatus, system, or component is so adapted, arranged, capable, configured, enabled, operable, or operative. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A dress shirt having hidden medical access points, the dress shirt comprising: a collar; a back portion; a front portion comprising: a first side coupled to a first sleeve, the first sleeve having an inner portion and an outer portion, the inner portion being proximate to the first side; a second side coupled to a second sleeve, the second sleeve having an inner portion and an outer portion, the inner portion being proximate to the second side; a zipper configured to couple the left side and the right side, such that, when coupled, a portion of the left side overlaps a portion of the right side defining an overlapping region of the two sides; and a plurality of decorative buttons positioned along the overlapping region; a first closable aperture positioned on an upper chest portion of the first side; a second closable aperture positioned on an upper chest portion of the second side; a third closable aperture positioned on the inner portion of the first sleeve; and a fourth closable aperture positioned on the inner portion of the second sleeve; wherein each of the closable apertures comprises a fastener configured to permit each of the closable apertures to be in an open configuration or a closed configuration; wherein each of the closable apertures, when in the open configuration, permit passage of a medical instrumentality therethrough; and wherein the dress shirt more closely resembles a conventional dress shirt when the closable apertures are in the closed configuration as compared to when the closable apertures are in the open configuration.
 2. A dress shirt having hidden medical access points, the dress shirt comprising: a collar; a front portion comprising: a first side and a second side, the first side having an open edge configured to overlap with an open edge of the second side when the first side is coupled to the second side; a plurality of buttons positioned along one of the open edge of the first side or the open edge of the second side; and a first closable aperture positioned on an upper chest portion of the first side; and a first sleeve coupled to the first side, the first sleeve comprising a second closable aperture positioned on an inner portion of the first sleeve; wherein the first and second closable apertures each comprise a fastener configured to permit the respective closable aperture to be in an open configuration or a closed configuration; and wherein each of the first and second closable apertures, when in the open configuration, permit passage of a medical instrumentality therethrough.
 3. The dress shirt of claim 2, wherein the dress shirt more closely resembles a conventional dress shirt when the closable apertures are in the closed configuration as compared when the closable apertures are in the open configuration.
 4. The dress shirt of claim 2, wherein one or more of the first closable aperture or the second closable aperture provides access to a central venous catheter.
 5. The dress shirt of claim 4, wherein the central venous catheter is a port line or a peripherally inserted central catheter (“PICC”) line.
 6. The dress shirt of claim 2, wherein the first sleeve comprises a portion that, when worn, extends past an elbow of a wearer of the dress shirt.
 7. The dress shirt of claim 2, wherein the front portion is designed such that, when worn, the front portion extends past a natural waist of a wearer of the dress shirt.
 8. The dress shirt of claim 2, wherein at least a portion of the dress shirt is made from a machine-washable material or a fabric protector-treated material that resists staining.
 9. The dress shirt of claim 2, wherein the first closable aperture has one or more visibility reducing features.
 10. The dress shirt of claim 2, wherein the front portion of the dress shirt further comprises a third closable aperture positioned on an upper chest portion of the second side.
 11. The dress shirt of claim 2, wherein the dress shirt further comprises: a second sleeve coupled the second side; and a fourth closable aperture positioned on an inner portion of the second sleeve.
 13. The dress shirt of claim 2, wherein: the plurality of buttons comprise at least a top button and a bottom button, the top button being a button nearest the collar and the bottom button being a button furthest from the collar; the dress shirt further comprises a zipper extending at least from the top button to the bottom button, the zipper configured to couple the first side of the front portion to the second side of the front portion, wherein the zipper is hidden by an overlapping portion of the left side and the right side of the front portion.
 14. A dress shirt having a hidden medical access point, the dress shirt comprising: a collar; a front portion comprising: a first side and a second side, the first side having an open edge configured to overlap with an open edge of the second side when the first side is coupled to the second side; a plurality of buttons positioned along one of the open edge of the first side or the open edge of the second side; and a first closable aperture positioned on an upper chest portion of the first side; and wherein the first closable aperture comprises a fastener configured to permit first closable aperture to be in an open configuration or a closed configuration; and wherein the first closable aperture, when in the open configuration, permits passage of a medical instrumentality therethrough.
 15. The dress shirt of claim 14, wherein the dress shirt more closely resembles a conventional dress shirt when the closable apertures are in the closed configuration as compared when the closable apertures are in the open configuration.
 16. The dress shirt of claim 14, wherein the front portion further comprises a second closable aperture positioned on an upper chest portion of the second side.
 17. The dress shirt of claim 14, further comprising a first sleeve coupled to the first side of the dress shirt and a second sleeve coupled to the second side of the dress shirt.
 18. The dress shirt of claim 17, wherein the dress shirt comprises a third closable aperture positioned on an inner portion of the first sleeve.
 19. The dress shirt of claim 17, wherein the second sleeve comprising a fourth closable aperture positioned on an inner portion of the second sleeve.
 20. The dress shirt of claim 14, wherein: the plurality of buttons comprise at least a top button and a bottom button, the top button being a button nearest the collar and the bottom button being a button furthest from the collar; and the dress shirt further comprises a zipper extending at least from the top button to the bottom button, the zipper configured to couple the first side of the front portion to the second side of the front portion. 